JP2014534717A - Endpoint repeater function selection - Google Patents

Abstract

Devices and techniques for improving communication between battery-operated network endpoints and a central facility are disclosed. The battery powered endpoint may determine its remaining battery capacity and determine whether it can provide a message relay service to other endpoints in the network. The endpoint may make such a determination based on its communication reliability to the central facility, either directly or via another endpoint operating as a repeater.

Description

  The invention disclosed herein relates to a battery operated device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and device for performing selective operations as a repeater of a battery operated utility endpoint device.

  Utility measurement devices, typically including electricity, water, gas, and oil meters, are often each coupled or associated with an endpoint device. Such endpoint devices may provide various functionalities such as various communication functions including data collection and storage, service disconnection functions, and radio frequency (RF) transmission and / or reception functions. Such RF functions are intended for data upload purposes, i.e. reporting utility consumption information and receiving data for updating operating systems or parameters associated with endpoint operations including data collection related parameters. May be employed for communication with a central facility.

  In many examples, endpoint devices and utility consumption measurement related devices associated with them are organized into a network configuration. A mesh network is a known example of a mechanism for some such networks. In such an exemplary network configuration, information is typically directed to and from individual endpoint devices in relation to a central facility, so that information can be transferred from one device to another. May be sent to. In some cases, an individual endpoint acts as a repeater, another endpoint that cannot communicate directly with the central facility or other central collection device, or for some other reason, the central facility or other central collection device May be configured to communicate information (such as data) to and from endpoints that operate not to communicate directly with.

  Considering the type of power available to the endpoint, certain operational problems may occur depending on the different types of endpoints. In some cases, an electric meter may draw power from the same power line that is being monitored for power consumption. In such an example, power is available except during power outages. However, other utility consumption meter and endpoint combinations may only have battery power available for operation during normally assumed operating conditions. In some cases, water, gas, and oil meters are likely to be powered from battery power during so-called “normal” operation compared to electric meters.

  Further complicating RF communication in some environments is the common method of installing endpoints in wells and holes, in other words, underground. Such installations tend to inherently reduce the range achievable between associated communication devices, regardless of transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. In order to overcome such limitations on transmission range, various repeater and antenna configurations have been provided in the past in currently known efforts. In some cases, a single below ground endpoint may function as a repeater and be “out of range” in an area collector, concentrator device, or central facility. It may relay information from another such underground endpoint. Additionally or alternatively, terrestrial antennas have been provided previously to improve communication capabilities for underground installations.

  While various implementations of endpoint operating systems and approaches have been developed, the design that generally encompasses all of the desired power effects disclosed below in accordance with the techniques of the present invention has not yet emerged.

  In view of the recognized features encountered in the prior art and addressed by the present invention, approaches have been provided to improve communication between battery-operated network endpoints and central facilities. In accordance with some embodiments of such an approach, a network of endpoint devices may be established, and at least some of such endpoints are configured to operate as repeaters. Such an endpoint with sufficient battery capacity to support repeating the message sends a signal to other endpoints to indicate that capacity. Using such an approach, messages may be relayed from endpoints that are not recognized by the central facility.

  One problem that arises from the use of underground endpoints that operate as repeaters is the additional power given to the limited power source supplied by the battery, especially when such endpoints draw their operating power from battery power. A drain. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanism that minimizes additional drain on the endpoint battery supply and maximizes battery life.

  In some embodiments, transmission of a signal indicating the availability of repeating messages may be permitted based on the reliability of the endpoint's communication path to the central facility. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the transmitted signal may correspond to a discovery bit.

  In other embodiments, the endpoint may be associated with a measurement device, whereby the endpoint may transmit measurement data to the central facility. In selected embodiments, the measurement device may be a consumption measurement device, and in some such embodiments may correspond to one of water, gas, and oil meter.

  The invention in some embodiments also relates to a network including a central facility and a plurality of endpoints. In such exemplary embodiments, the endpoint is battery powered and has the ability to communicate with a central facility. In some such embodiments, after the selected endpoints of the endpoints have determined that they have sufficient battery capacity to support repeating messages from other endpoints. Only, it may operate as a repeater showing such repeater functionality to other endpoints. In other embodiments, the repeater capability function indication is provided based on the reliability of the endpoint's communication path to the central facility. In selected embodiments, an endpoint operating as a repeater informs other endpoints of such functional capabilities by sending what may be referred to as a discovery bit.

  In certain embodiments, an endpoint may be associated with a measurement device, so that the endpoint may transmit measurement data to a central facility. In selected such embodiments, the measurement device may comprise a consumption measurement device, and in some embodiments, the consumption measurement device is at least one of water, gas, and oil meter. It may correspond or be associated.

  Additional embodiments of the present invention are described in the detailed description of the present specification or will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the detailed description of the present specification. In addition, modifications and variations of the configurations, elements, and steps specifically illustrated, mentioned, and discussed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that this may be done in embodiments and uses. Variations include, but are not limited to, replacement of means, configurations, or steps with equivalent means, configurations, or steps and functional, operations such as various parts, configurations, steps, etc. And positional reversal may be included.

  Still further, different embodiments of the present invention, as well as different disclosed embodiments, may be embodied in various combinations or configurations of the configurations, steps, or elements disclosed herein, or equivalents thereof (shown explicitly in the drawings). It will be understood that the invention may include configurations, parts, or combinations of steps, or combinations thereof, which are not described or described in the detailed description of the drawings. Additional embodiments of the present invention may not necessarily be expressed in the summary of the invention, but are described in the above-described summary article, components, steps or steps, and / or otherwise. Can include and incorporate various combinations of other features, components, or step aspects discussed herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the structure and aspects of such embodiments and others upon review of the remainder of the specification.

The complete and operable disclosure of the invention, including the best mode, directed to those skilled in the art is described in the specification. This refers to the accompanying drawings described below.
2 illustrates an example portion of an example network employing multiple endpoint devices, wherein at least some endpoint devices are configured to function as repeaters in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates endpoint devices and associated metrology components that can be employed in the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary endpoint operational and associated metrology components in accordance with the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of operation in accordance with the present invention.

  The repeated use of reference signs in the present specification and the accompanying drawings is intended to represent the same or similar components, elements, or steps in the technology disclosed herein.

  As discussed in the Summary of the Invention, the present invention particularly relates to battery operated devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing selective operation as a repeater of a battery operated utility endpoint device.

  Selected combinations of aspects of the technology correspond to different embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each example of embodiment presented and described herein is not meant to imply limitations on the invention. The configurations or steps described or described as part of one embodiment may be used in combination with aspects of other embodiments to yield still further embodiments. Further, certain configurations may be replaced with similar devices or configurations not explicitly shown that perform the same or similar functions.

  In the following, this embodiment of the repeater function of the present invention including the configuration of the battery operated endpoint will be shown in detail. Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of exemplary / representative endpoints 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 that are (or can be configured) to function at least in part as repeaters. , 120 generally illustrates an example portion of an example network 100. In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 1, each of the endpoints 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 can act as a repeater, so for endpoint 112, between endpoints 110 and 116. It may function as a repeater for endpoints 110 and 116, as indicated by the double arrow. In other situations, the endpoint may communicate directly with the central facility 140 between the antenna 142 of the central facility 140 and the endpoints 116, 118, as indicated by the double arrows 136, 138, respectively. . Further details regarding the specific use of the endpoint as a repeater are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 8,024,724, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

  In the following description, the term “endpoint” is used as the only singular designation for a combination of components, including components configured to communicate by means of a consumption measurement component with radio frequency (RF) transmission. May be. The RF communication component may be generally referred to as a transceiver. Such consumption measurement devices may also generally correspond to water meters and may include one or more measurements for other commodity consumption or production measurements, including but not limited to gas and oil. A device may be included. Further, the transceiver may be configured to provide communication between the endpoint and the central facility, as well as between other endpoints. The term “endpoint” is intended to encompass variations of the foregoing, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the generic context herein.

  Still referring to FIG. 1, each of the endpoints 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 is configured to communicate by RF transmission as indicated by double-headed arrows 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, respectively. Will understand. In general, each of the endpoints 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 may communicate with any other endpoint within its transmission range, generally by means of its communication equipment represented by the antenna 142. May communicate with the central facility 140. The antenna 142 may be a relatively tall tower structure that is positioned to provide coverage for a large area that covers, for example, up to 100,000 consumer locations. In some cases, multiple additional local communication facilities that are similar in arrangement to the central facility 140 (not shown separately) may be provided, for example, within a particular area or in the neighborhood, simply with the endpoint. Information may be relayed to and from one central facility. Such communication is performed by means of other communication technologies, including RF transmission or other suitable communications that may be existing or will be developed in the future, such as coaxial cable, optical cable, leased telephone line, wireless cellular service, or other future communications May be.

  FIG. 2 shows that each of the endpoints 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 shown in FIG. 1 may correspond to an endpoint 200 that includes multiple elements. In the particular example where a given endpoint 200 corresponds to a water meter, such an endpoint 200 is an enclosure that is at least partially underground, as illustrated or represented more generally in FIG. (Enclosure) may be housed. With continued reference to FIG. 2, a water meter 210 having an input water line 220 and an output water line 222 may associate it with a controller 230 and a transceiver 240. The transceiver 240 may be coupled by means of an antenna 242 and a cable 244. The antenna 242 may be placed in an underground housing with other endpoint components, or may be placed on the ground (not specifically shown herein). The position of the antenna may be determined based on a number of factors to consider, and those factors to consider and, indeed, the location and / or type of antenna that is ultimately selected are There is no specific limitation.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown generally illustrating the operational components of the endpoint and associated metrology components in the present invention. It will be appreciated that identification numbers corresponding to components already described with reference to FIG. 2 have the same reference numbers in FIG. 3, except for names in the 300s.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the representative endpoint 300 generally includes a consumption measurement unit 310 having an input unit 320 and an output unit 322. As previously mentioned, such an arrangement may in some cases be a water meter having input and output water lines. In an alternative embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the consumption measurement unit 310 and its associated input line 320 and output line 322 provide measurement and processing of liquefied gas, oil, natural gas, and possibly electricity. You will understand that good. Further, it should be understood that the use of the term “consumption” herein may be used more generally to define a “flow” or utility delivery. Alternatively, the measurement applies not only to the amount consumed in the sense of being “used” by the consumer, but also to the amount or rate of the utility produced by the source (eg oil or gas well). Also good.

  With continued reference to FIG. 3, the signal may be generated by consumption measurement unit 310 and passed to processor 330 by means of representative signal line 332. The controller 330 may correspond to other devices that receive and possibly store information from the microprocessor, computer, or consumption measurement unit 310. Such information may correspond to a portion of the controller 330 or may be stored in an associated memory portion 334 that may correspond to a separate memory device or combination thereof. The memory unit 330 or its sub-parts may also be used to store operation instructions related to the operation of the consumption measurement unit 310, the controller 330, and / or the transceiver 340. For example, the instructions stored in the controller 330 may relate to the number and type of data collection, billing and / or rate information, and / or information regarding the operation of the transceiver 340.

  The transceiver 340 may receive instructions by means of the communication line 336 and forwards information that may be received from, for example, a central network facility to the controller 330 via the same communication line 336 or an alternative communication line. May be. The transceiver 340 may transmit and / or receive RF communication signals by means of an antenna 342 and a cable 344 that couples the transceiver 340 and the antenna 342.

  Finally, it will be appreciated that a battery-operated power supply 350 is provided that can provide operating power to one or more of the consumption measurement unit 310, the controller 330, and the transceiver 340. In accordance with the present invention, care is taken to minimize the consumption of battery power supply 350. In particular, care is taken to avoid using a limited number or only one such repeating endpoint device, particularly when the endpoint 300 operates as a repeater device. In this way, additional load requirements imposed on an endpoint 300 acting as a repeater are shared among many such devices, and in doing so, additional burdens between many endpoints. May be shared.

  In an exemplary configuration, the “load level” in the entire system for repeater usage in accordance with the present invention, for example, is based on the remaining battery capacity, among other things to consider, Can be shared between endpoints 300, and in this way, only a minimal increase in battery capacity at each of the entire endpoints 300 may be required. Since the battery cost is one of the largest costs for each endpoint, the system cost can be minimized if the workload is distributed to more repeaters.

  Furthermore, endpoints selected as a group of endpoints that share a repeater load are also endpoints that are recognized to have a highly reliable communication path. In a more reliable communication path, in general and more specifically, an endpoint operating as a repeater also reduces the frequency of transmitted messages to minimize battery usage. be able to. Such reduced traffic also reduces RF collisions, thereby increasing communication reliability and contributing to extended battery usage in addition to overall system performance.

  In an exemplary embodiment, an endpoint 300 having a battery capacity above a predetermined level and having sufficient quality of service connection to at least another upstream endpoint or direct service connection with a central facility is The endpoint may be notified of such facts. As is known to those skilled in the art, an endpoint operating in a network environment typically transmits a header associated with virtually all transmitted signals. Such a header includes not only identification information and at least some routing information such as a next-hop address, but also discovery information. In accordance with the present invention, an endpoint is said to have a battery capacity sufficient to provide a signal containing endpoint discovery bits to such other endpoints for such endpoints to provide such repeater functionality services. This may be sent as an indicator to other endpoints that are willing to accept and forward the message. In this way, the selection of an endpoint as a repeater relative to other endpoints will affect the battery effectiveness of the selected repeater endpoint in addition to the proximity to the unheard endpoint. Can be based.

  Endpoints that essentially act as repeaters have a very reliable communication path, which can reduce the frequency of communication that can have a significant impact on overall system performance and battery usage. Such an action also leads to a further effect.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart 400 of an exemplary method of operation according to the present invention is shown. Generally, at least the selected endpoint is associated with the measurement device, as described above. Accordingly, in step 402, such endpoints may collect measurement data for subsequent transmission.

  In accordance with the present invention, selected endpoints, including those capable of operating as repeaters, evaluate their upstream links in step 404 to assess their ability to communicate in a reliable manner. Also good.

  Also in step 406, the endpoints also evaluate their respective battery capacities to determine if there is sufficient capacity for additional operations as endpoint repeaters for data from other endpoints. May be. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, if sufficient battery capacity is available and the endpoint has sufficient reliable uplink capability, the endpoint capable of operating as a repeater is Then, in step 408, a signal indicating such capability may be transmitted to other endpoints. In a suitable embodiment, the signal transmitted in step 408 includes discovery bits.

  If the endpoint receiving such a transmitted signal of repeater capability indications determines that such signal repeating is necessary, then the providing endpoint will then do so in step 410. A message may be relayed to an endpoint that requires a special service.

  Having sufficient battery capacity may be determined in some cases based on a determination of battery capacity above a predetermined level, while the reliability of individual upstream communications is not limited in some cases. May be determined based on a number of different criteria, including quality of service assessment, number of hops to central facility, and level of traffic already repeated by the endpoint.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, those skilled in the art may readily generate alternatives, variations, and corresponding examples of such embodiments upon understanding the above. It will be understood that there is. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is illustrative rather than limiting, and the present disclosure does not exclude the inclusion of such modifications, variations, and / or additional examples of the present invention, which It will be easily understood by the contractor.

Claims (10)

A method for improving communication between a battery operated network endpoint and a central facility, comprising:
Sending a signal from the endpoint to demonstrate the effectiveness of the repeater function at the endpoint, sufficient to assist in relaying messages from other endpoints;
Relaying a message from an endpoint requesting a repeater function that is not yet recognized at the central facility. Signal transmission is
Endpoint battery capacity above a specified level, or
Reliability of the endpoint's communication path to the central facility;
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is authorized based on at least one of the following:   The signal transmission is further permitted based on an endpoint having a sufficient quality of service connection with at least another upstream endpoint or direct service connection with a central facility. the method of.   The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal includes transmitting a discovery bit.   The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a measurement device with the endpoint so that the endpoint can transmit measurement data to the central facility. A central facility,
In a network comprising a plurality of endpoints, wherein the selected endpoint of the plurality of endpoints is battery operated and has an endpoint capable of operating as a repeater,
Only after the endpoint having the ability to act as a repeater determines that it has a repeater function at the endpoint sufficient to assist in relaying messages from other endpoints. A network characterized by providing to other endpoints. The display is
Endpoint battery capacity above a specified level, or
Reliability of the endpoint's communication path to the central facility;
The network of claim 6, wherein the network is provided based on at least one of the following:   8. The display of claim 7, wherein the indication is further provided based on an endpoint having sufficient quality of service connection with at least another upstream endpoint or direct service connection with a central facility. network.   The network of claim 6, wherein an endpoint having sufficient battery capacity to support message relaying transmits discovery bits. A measurement device associated with at least a selected endpoint of the plurality of endpoints;
7. The network of claim 6, wherein the endpoint may send measurement data to the central facility.

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